'Help Me, Please'

Levi shut the door behind them, the muffled thud barely cutting through the hushed, tense argument still brewing between Charles and Arthur in the other room. The dim candlelight flickered, sending jagged shadows crawling across the damp stone walls.

The space was small—too small—thick with the scent of mildew, damp wood, and something metallic. Florian swallowed hard agains554t the nausea curling in his stomach.

His heartbeat hammered against his ribs.

'This is it. This is my only chance.'

The sight of the grimy room made his skin crawl, but the filth wasn't what unsettled him most—it was the thought of being trapped here, of losing whatever slim window of opportunity he had.

Without thinking, his fingers latched onto Levi's sleeve, gripping the fabric as if it were the only thing keeping him grounded. His voice came out barely above a whisper, urgent, pleading.

"Tell me how to get out. Please."